CRICKET

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1931, Page 7

CRICKET

NEW ZEALAND TOUR. AGAINST -MIDDLESEX. CD OMB TAKES 8 FOR 70. (Special to Press Association). LONDON, May 30. Fine howling by Cromb allowed tin New Zealand cricketers to dismiss tin Middlesex eleven comparatively cheap l.v at the Lords ground. The New Zealand team omitteci Dempster, Matheson, and Alleott. Lowry lost the tos s for the first time,. Middlesex decided to bat. Enthoven and Hearne started confidently on an easy wicket for Middlesex. The bowling during the morning was somewhat unsteady.. Lowry’s policy of frequent cha,nge s checked the scoring.; Hearne was the first out, being caught in the slips by Blunt, off one of Crombs’ away-swingers when 22. Caning was dismissed when 13 by a brilliant diving catch by Talbot at short leg off Cromb. Another fine catch was made by Page at first slip which ended Enthoven’s innings. Hendren and Allen then were associated. They added one hundred runs in a timely fourth-wicket partnership. They attacked all of the bowling. After lunch Cromb struck form comparable with that on his previous appearance at Lords. He took a fine catch off his own bowling to dismiss Allen, Then only Hendren looked like staying. He gave two chance s before he- was caught at 74 behind the wicket, but he played a delightful innings, which was characterised by faultless footwork. Die hit mine 'fours. Allen made 58, scoring a five and a six off Merritt, and seven fours. / Chimb received no assistance- from the wicket, but he swung away late, varying this with am occasional inswinger. He howled 31 overs and 12 maidens. Blunt and Talbot bowled steadily, but Merritt was below form. Rain caused an adjournment after W 5 minutes’ play. New Zealand batted for an hour before weivs, drawn and tw;o of their most valuable wickets fell to the test bowlers, Allen and Peebles. Mills batted confidently. The attendance was twelve thousand. Scores : MIDDLESEX—First Innings. Enthoven, e Page, b Blunt 34 Hearne, c Blunt, b Cromb 22 Canning, c Talbot, b Cromb 13 Hendren, c James, b Cromb ... 7-1 Allen, c and b Cromb 58 Newman, c Page, b Cromb 0 Haig, b Cromb 7 Hulme, c Page, b Cromb 17 Gu.rston, 1.b.w., b Cromb 0 Peebles, l.b.w, b Blunt 1 Price, (not out) 4 Extras 11 Total 241 Bowling analysis:—Cromb ’8 for 70, Merritt 0 for 57, Weir 0 for 8, Blunt 2 for 52, Talbot 6 for 30, Vivian 0 for L'j. NE"V ZEAL \ND—First Innings. MMIs, (not out) 21 Veil - , b Allen j Kerr, 1.b.w., b Peebles ? Extras ... 2 Total for 2 wickets 33 Stumps were then drawn.